Before the third and final Test between Australia and Pakistan, the visiting team had a new member in the squad. Will Symonds, the son of the late former Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds, who actively took part in training with Shan Masood and Co.
Will Symonds was warmly welcomed by members of the Pakistan team, including Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, and captain Shan Masood. Masood kindly presented him with a Pakistan team training cap, and they posed for a photograph together.
Later on, Symonds was spotted batting during the Pakistani team's warm-up session and even bowled a few deliveries to Rizwan.
Check the video here:
Remember, Andrew Symonds passed away at the age of 46 following a car accident last year. The versatile player represented Australia in 26 Tests, 198 one-day internationals, and 14 Twenty20 matches between 1998 and 2009. He played a significant role in Australia's World Cup triumphs in 2003 and 2007 as well as their Ashes victory against England in 2006-07.
Pakistan, Australia confirmed playing XIs for the final Test
Pakistan have made two changes for the third and final Test of the series against Australia, which begins tomorrow at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Saim Ayub will make his debut, replacing opener Imam-ul-Haq in the lineup.
According to sources, the team management is unhappy with Imam’s slow batting during the series so far. The left-hander has scored 94 runs in four innings at a strike-rate of 31.22.
The management has given clear instructions to the team about playing positive cricket, the sources added.
Meanwhile, spinner Sajid Khan has been included in place of pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has been rested, to boost the spin-bowling department since the pitch is likely to assist the slower bowlers.
Shaheen has bowled 99.2 overs during the series, which is the most for both teams.
Teams
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (capt), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, Hasan Ali, Sajid Khan, Mir Hamza, Aamer Jamal.
